Although often purchased as a "toy", electric scooters often live long lives as transportation.

We believe these benefits far outweigh the speed and distance advantages of
gas-powered scooters. (Long ranges on a scooter are tiring. Consider an electric bike instead.) To help the undecided,
we offer a few questions to clarify your thinking.

"I bought the Zappy mainly for fun, and that it is. It is definitely one cool little scooter.
Personally though, if I was going to spend money for a transportation vehicle, I would opt for one of
the electric motor add-on kits for my bicycle. It would be faster, more comfortable, and if an assist
is needed on a hill (or you run out of 'juice'), it seems more natural to pedal a bike than kick the
scooter. Bikes, with a rack or trailer, can easily carry extra items."

Scooters we rate as "Best Buys" offer superior value resulting from a combination of factors:

manufacturer's number of years in the U. S. electric scooter market;

solid company (experience, resources, and commitment) behind the e-scooter;

quality and performance;

after-sale service and support;

innovation or niche-market appeal.

For most people, top speed is less important than range and reliability. Although scooter speed, range and weight vary,
all three correlate well with with one another - and are inversely proportional to portability (i.e. as speed, range and weight to up, portability goes down).
So, we've ranked our Best Buys by weight/portability with the smaller/lighter/slower scooters at the top:

Need a place to store your e-scoot (or fleet)?
For a list of grid-tied and solar-electric
bike charging stations, click here.

"Bargain Buys"

Most scooters priced less than $250 at big box retailers
and on-line are aimed at the kid/teen/toy market. They generally lack the performance and durability
that people want and expect. Also, parts and service can be problematic with both big box retailers
and on-line vendors. We urge you to invest in a scooter that will serve you (and others) for many years.
If you choose to buy one anyway,
read our quality control and final adjustment guidelines.
Remember, if it's poorly constructed and you can't get repair parts, it will likely become land-fill material.
Save, beg, or borrow the money to get a quality bike or kit.

Safety Rules when Riding Scooters:

Responsible riders do not duck in and out of traffic.

Friends don't let friends ride scooters when drunk.

Responsible riders do not ride at fast speeds on the sidewalk.

Friends don't let inexperienced friends ride souped-up scooters.

Responsible riders recognize that pedestrians always have the right-of-way.

Responsible parents insure that their children wear proper safety gear when riding
scooters. And they lead by example.